Catherine Babault

Two large Steller sea lions growling at each other during the herring spawn.

California and Steller sea lions do not sound the same. Steller have a much deeper growl, which is a good reminder to keep a safe distance from them.

Photo taken yesterday with my telephoto lens.

#photography #wildlife #nature #SeaLions #HerringSpawn #VancouverIslandWildlife #VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #Canada

Mar 11 at 12:55amWeb
Show threadBob TregilusMar 11
@CatherineBabault Very nice!
Show threadCatherine BabaultMar 11
@elaterite Thank you. I have taken hundreds of photos of them since early March from a respectful distance and with a telephoto lens. This image is also slighty cropped.
There are hundreds of sea lions beaching in our region for the annual herring spawn. One place made the news and thousands of people have been visiting it and disturbing these animals, getting too close for photos, etc.
There is another location, that I won't disclose until the sea lions are gone, and this photo was taken there.
Show threadBob TregilusMar 11
@CatherineBabault Nice, and I appreciate your dedication to being an ethical wildlife photographer. 🙂
Show threadCatherine BabaultMar 12
@elaterite Interesting to see that other photographers (pros and amateurs) have been at that second location and, as far as I know, none of them have shared the location on social media or otherwise. đź‘Ť
Show threadBob TregilusMar 12
@CatherineBabault Nice!
Show threadJamesAshburnerMar 11
@CatherineBabault Having—accidentally—come too close to a Hooker’s sealion, I approve of your “keeping a safe distance”. My, our Hooker’s was more nonplussed than startled.
Oh, it’s 20 years ago come November.
Show threadCatherine BabaultMar 11

@JamesAshburnerCBR I regularly reiterate that I photograph wildlife from a safe distance as my photos might give the impression that I was very close.
The presence of hundreds of sea lions beaching in our region for the annual herring spawn has attracted crowds after making the news. So I'm also reminding people to keep their distance.

I looked at the Hooker's sea lion and read that they ''are one of the rarest and most endangered of the sea lions.''
https://www.marinebio.org/species/hookers-sea-lions/phocarctos-hookeri/

Hooker's Sea Lions | MarineBio Conservation Society

Hooker's sea lions, Phocarctos hookeri (Gray, 1844), aka New Zealand sea lions, are one of the rarest and most endangered of the sea lions.

MarineBio Conservation Society